Ayurveda: A holistic way to attain mental peace

A good mental health is very necessary for the proper integration of the
mind, body and soul. Ayurveda defines health to be a complete biological
equilibrium between the sensory, mental, emotional and spiritual elements of
body. According to Ayurveda, a sound mental health is a state of mental,
intellectual and spiritual well-being. So, it is very essential to maintain a
harmony between these three aspects good live a mentally stable life.

In the ancient text of Charaka Samhita has described eight factors that are
responsible for the mental stability and any negative effect in these factors
can result to various psychiatric disorders. These eight factors are: manas
(mind), buddhi, smriti (memory), sajna jnana (orientation and responsiveness),
bhakti (devotion), shila (habits), cheshta (psychomotor activity) and achara
(conduct). These factors decide the state of consciousness and unconsciousness
of human mind.

While a conscious and healthy mind is recognized by Good memory, good eating
habits, awareness of self-responsibilities, maintaining cleanliness and hygiene,
enthusiasm, cleverness, bravery, perseverance, cheerfulness , fearlessness,
sharp intellectual level, self-sufficiency, good values and ability to
understand and manipulate things in a right direction, an unconscious and
unhealthy mind can be characterized by lack of confidence, fear, sadness, lack
of enthusiasm, laziness and low intellectual level.

In Ayurveda, a fourfold internal instrument or antahkarana chatushtya model
of mind called the Samkhya-Vedanta has been described. These four instruments
are Chitta (Conditioned consciousness), Buddhi (Intelligency), Manas (Mind,
capacity of imagination) and Ahamkara (Ego). In ayurvedic approach to gain
mental calmness it is very essential to calm the chitta, develop the buddhi,
control the manas and reduce ahamkara.

In addition to that, Ayurveda recommends counseling, meditation, yoga,
ayurvedic oil massages, healthy living, healthy eating and natural ayurvedic
medicine and remedies to help the mind, body and soul achieve balance. Ayurveda
works on the principle 'purify, pacify and remove the cause' and helps in
gaining the ultimate mental peace.

Thus, Ayurvedic approach to attain the psychological spirituality tells that
all the souls growing and heading towards the enlightenment and reunification
with the divine and thus providing the mental peace.